So, this week it is 'Selfish Sewing Week'. I understand that the idea behind this is that people who often sew heaps of clothes or things for others - predominantly their children - don't often make things for themselves and that during this week they focus on doing just that. It seems fair to redress the balance, and to take some time to think about oneself. And I'm all for that, in fact I only occasionally sew for other people. But I'm not sure that makes it or me selfish? I don't think it's selfish at all.

I mentioned being uncomfortable with this phrase in a previous post and I was interested to see that it started a mini (very mini) discussion on Twitter, Claire-Louise of The Thrifty Stitcher mentioned it was 'essential for sanity' and another comment described sewing as a 'gift to our soul'. I really like that idea: Soul Sewing.

'Selfish' has incredibly negative connotations; of lack of concern for others, or being interested solely in pleasing oneself. Whilst sewing is generally a solitary pursuit and provides huge amounts of satisfaction (and frustration / tantrums!) for the stitcher, I don't associate the negative side with sewing at all.

Whether for someone else or for yourself, sewing clothes, bags, quilts, curtains, stuffed animals, whatever, fosters many positive human characteristics and can be good for the soul in so many ways.

It can lift your mood; enhance a memory; provide escapism; allow you to constructively let off steam; be a nod to history and to mothers and grandmothers who sewed in different circumstances; be an awareness of the fashion industry's failings and an acknowledgement of those that sew in less than human conditions; it can be a way to reduce household outgoings; it can be a remembrance of a special person, time or occasion; and allow you to bring a smile to someone's face purely due to the fact that you have taken the time, effort and love to create something specifically for them.

There are a whole raft of sewers out there who focus purely on sewing vintage patterns. And then there are the quilters who use fabrics with special meaning to create memory quilts. And then there are those who love to use vintage fabric and sewing tools. Sewing is nostalgic, creative, fulfilling and meaningful; it is not selfish; even when it is only done for yourself.

If sewing keeps your mind healthy and productive and you elicit pleasure from it in the midst of your crazy life, then it is antidote, it is putting yourself in a good place so that you can be the person you need to be for others in your life. That is not selfish. It is necessary.

As one commenter so succinctly put it, nobody ever says, "I'm just off to do some selfish running."

So as Karen suggested, should we erase the phrase from our sewing lexicon?

Perhaps this week could be renamed 'Soul Sewing Week' and the focus becomes on sewing that thing that makes you truly the happiest, for whomever it is.

Mini-rant over - what are your thoughts? Is it silly to get hung up on phrases like this?

Welcome to Noble & Daughter. I'm Charlie and this is where I document my sewing exploits, as I hope to build a wardrobe of beautiful, individual, well-constructed, contemporary, self-made fashion. Find out more here ...

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I have about a yard and a half of this beautiful stretch cotton I got @wearethefabricstore in Sydney. It’s a remnant by a designer whose name I forget but I know @artworkerprojects will be able to remind me!
I am desperate to make a @trend_patterns #TPC20 shirt dress out of it as the structure of the dress and sleeves would work so well with the geometric pattern but it doesn’t matter how I configure the layout, or put pieces aside to cut out in another fabric it just isn’t going to fit. (And I don’t want to make the shirt for some reason.) I’m irrationally upset about this.
I’m trying to come up with other options - perhaps a #kabukitee?
Hoping you all can help me get over my dreams being dashed!
#sewingsadness
#thefabricdoesntwork
#imakemyownclothes
#imakefashion
#wellatleastitryto

As worn when ... my mum needed a bit of space from the chaos of the house in France. We went to the local market and bought sardines and langoustines and mussels and linen and a Panama hat. I don’t get to see my mum very often and it’s so special to have some time just me and her.
She is a very special human, always has time and consideration to give the best advice; she is so kind and generous, utterly hilarious; she started everything by teaching me to sew (she studied at the London College of Fashion in the 60s); and she is loved hugely by everyone who knows her. I’m so lucky.
#ogdencami and #jessicadress made into a skirt.
#travellingwardrobe
#handmadevacation
#handmadeholiday
#aswornwhen
#linenblend
#mothers
#mymumisthebest

Old make. New make. I’ve said it before but I love it when two orphan makes revitalise one another.
New make is the Mesange Top by @delphinemorissette, which I didn’t love when I finished it but it’s growing on me.
Old make is self-drafted culottes from 2015 I think. So many things not right about these as they were the first I designed myself, but I’ve missed wearing them.
#oldmakenewmake
#topmesange
#selfdrafted
#culottes
#handmadefashion
#ilovesewing
#makerstyle
#diyootd

As worn when ... my entire family (with whom I was on vacation in France with and which involves a combination of travel from NYC, Sydney, Surrey and Northamptonshire) and I went to an evening market in Eymet and ate Moules Frites on pop up tables around the market square, oysters in a polystyrene ice tray and had a very protracted conversation in rudimentary French about the nature of the oil the frites were fritted in. There was much confusion about the translation of sunflower and peanut oils. Kind of critical when my niece has anaphylactic nut allergies. We never did resolve the oil’s provenance and nobody other than us seemed to care. Wonderful evening though.
@mimigstyle #jessicadress in some kind of linen mix from who knows where. Beautiful wooden buttons given to me by the lovely Diana @makeworkshop
#travellingwardrobe
#handmadevacation
#handmadeholiday
#jessicadress
#sewsewdefmag
#aswornwhen
#arethereallergiesinfrance
#travellingwithallergies
#anaphylaxis